John Ryan keen for Munster to go the distance against Leinster

Munster's John Ryan and Marshall Sykes of Edinburgh. Pic: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

John Ryan is hoping Munster’s latest trip up the M7 to face Leinster will not just start with a bang but finish with one also when the derby rivals clash at Croke Park on Saturday.

The veteran prop has been on plenty of Munster sides which have started strong before caving to the type of pressure Leinster, the URC defending champions, can apply with ruthless conviction.

The 37-year-old also points to damaging injuries around this fixture but he now sees a squad in relatively good health and with confidence boosted by the arrival of new head coach Clayton McMillan and a three-game winning start to the new URC campaign.

Munster may still be searching for some fluency but a tough and much-mentioned old school pre-season under McMillan’s fellow New Zealander Brad Mayo, the new head of Athletic Performance is already paying dividends according to the front-rower as victories have been ground out against both Cardiff and Edinburgh in rounds two and three.

Leinster represent the toughest examination yet of Munster’s progress under McMillan but Ryan is happy his province is on the right track to end a four-game losing streak home and away to their fiercest interprovincial rivals. Referring to last season’s 26-12 loss at Croke Park and the previous year’s 21-16 defeat at Aviva Stadium, Ryan said: “I think we've done that well the last few years against Leinster, to be fair.

“Probably the last two seasons up there and at home last Christmas did quite well early, but just didn't finish off the game and I think the last two years we've been fairly decimated in the Leinster games with injuries, so it's an area we need to keep lads on the pitch, especially our front rows. I think I came on at loosehead and tighthead a few times last year at Croke Park.

“But yeah, just keeping the lads on and making those changes when we tactically want to make them. That would be ideal to have a straightforward game like that.” 

Ryan made his seasonal debut in his native Cork last Friday as Munster edged Edinburgh 20-19 at Virgin Media Park, having recovered from a pre-season elbow injury which he felt had threatened to linger a while longer.

“Feeling good,” he said. “Had a little bit of a knock in my elbow there just in a pre-season game but I got back quicker than I thought. That was looking hairy at the start, but it's fine.

“It's good, got back early and got through the game last week with no issues other than a few cobwebs coughed up, but no, good, and looking forward to season feeling relatively fresh as I can be.

“I did find that was probably my first big hit out Friday. I didn't get much against Gloucester and I got very little against Bath, so hopefully I'll hit my stride now coming this weekend.”

Ryan is not just in a good place physically at the outset of his 14th season as a professional, and is wearing his senior status well despite feeling a little isolated at the top of the squad’s age bracket.

“It's very different for me now because I'm out on my own. I think everything just got stripped around me, like Peter O'Mahony is gone, Archer's gone, Murray, Killer, they're gone and I'm just very naked at the top of the age bracket!

“I think Tadhg Beirne is next in line and he's 33, he's pushing 34, so there's a bit of an age gap there, but I'm enjoying it.

“I think the young lads are brilliant, there are really good fellas there. It's a seriously good squad. I think the squad is exciting and that's what keeps me going.

“I'm after silverware. I've been after silverware my whole career and I left the club for about six months and they won a URC!

“I'm hungry for silverware and that's what drives me and like as long as I can do it, I'll do it. I won't overstay my welcome but I'll definitely do as long as I can, you know, because I need to win something to be fair.

“It sounds desperate, doesn’t it?” he joked, before adding: “If I'm not keeping up with the young lads, that's time, like, and I think at the moment I am.

“They're a lot bloody fitter than me, well they move a lot quicker around the park than me, but I'm just sticking in and helping out the set-piece stuff and I think I'm bringing a bit there as well, helping the younger lads, so I enjoy that part of it.

“Also these little niggly injuries, I'm still getting rid of them fairly quickly so hopefully I can get a run of games now and just really get into the season and hopefully continue our momentum.”